Nepal issues on-arrival visas for foreign travelers

In another step toward normalcy, the Government of Nepal, on 23 September, has announced to reopen the on-arrival visa for foreign travelers. According to Taranath Adhikari, joint secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, “Foreigners who have vaccinated with covid will now receive an on-arrival visa.”. The government of Nepal had forbidden foreigners on on-arrival visas along with the first lockdown from April 20th.

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‘Everest is Calling’ for fully vaccinated travelers. Khumbu region vaccinated 98% of its inhabitants.

The Everest Region is open for “fully” vaccinated domestic and international visitors. Such anticipated good news was announced on 23rd August as the Khumbu Pasanglhamu Municipality vaccinated 98% of its total population above 18 years of age.

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Royal Mountain Travel organizes sessions with travel guides to discuss sustainability at the destination

Session on Sustainability with travel guides

As a sustainable tour operator, Royal Mountain Travel (RMT) recognizes that it has a responsibility to promote the sustainability of the destinations in its itineraries. In light of this, RMT recently organized 4 sessions with tour leaders and travel guides to discuss important aspects of sustainability in Nepal’s tourism context. The sessions were attended by a total of 59 travel guides over 4 sessions.

Topics covered included key sustainability issues in Nepal’s tourism sector, ways to minimize impact on the environment, criteria for identifying sustainably operated accommodations along trekking routes and ways to minimize negative impact on the local communities while maximizing the benefits.

RMT staff taking part in the monthly Sustainability interactive session

Besides working to promote sustainability at the destination, RMT also conducts monthly interactive sessions with its staff to promote sustainable practices both at the business level and at an individual level.

Royal Mountain Travel awarded with the Ripple Effect Award by G Adventures


Recognizing efforts by Royal Mountain Travel (RMT) to bring the benefits of tourism to local communities, G adventures awarded RMT with the Ripple Effect award on September 28, 2019. The Ripple Effect Award is awarded for “outstanding commitment to changing the world through responsible travel”.

The award ceremony was held in Niagara Falls, Canada and was attended by the partners of G adventures. Among the award presenters were Mr. Jamie Sweeting, President of Planeterra Foundation (social enterprise of G Adventures) and Mr. Yves Marceau, Vice President of Product, G Adventures. RMT’s Managing Director, Mr. Shiva Dhakal received the award for the company.

Since 2012, RMT, through the Community Homestay Network has helped make a palpable impact on the lives of the homestay owners who are mostly women. Through the award, G Adventures recognized the company for its leadership in community tourism, women’s empowerment, environmental stewardship and for keeping responsible tourism at the core of their business.

Royal Mountain Travel establishes an Impact and Sustainability Department

At Royal Mountain Travel, we are guided by our vision to develop tourism in Nepal sustainably and to ensure that the benefits of tourism reach the local communities. Our impact-oriented approach led us to establish the Community Homestay Network. Over the years, it gives us immense joy to witness women homestay owners feel more empowered, standards of living of homestay owners improve, local economies become more stimulated and cultures of indigenous groups become more respected. We have been humbled to receive recognition from our partners worldwide for our efforts.

On the sustainability front, since our inception, we have learnt and continue to learn from our experiences and our partners to engage in more sustainable practices. As we worked towards engaging in more sustainable practices, we were awarded the Travelife Certification for Excellence in Sustainability in 2017. Continue reading

Local Guide Training for Sanga-Panauti Hike


Royal Mountain Travel and Community Homestay Network have always worked to empower the locals from different communities and with the same motto of supporting the local communities, Royal Mountain Travel started the Community Hike in 2016 which is now benefiting a lot of locals in different ways. With the main objective of utilizing the local human resources, Community Homestay Network (CHN) conducted two days Local Guide training on 1st and 2nd July 2019. This training was targeted to the locals of Panauti, who shall be hired for the community hike (Sanga-Panauti Hike) after the completion of the training. The training is, therefore, an outcome of the idea of making Panauti’s tourism sustainable by involving the locals directly to the tourism of the place. Continue reading